Opinion Former Article

NEA: Budget is a missed opportunity to help millions out of fuel poverty

The chancellor's budget, released 22nd April 2009, is a missed opportunity to kick-start the economy whilst taking millions of vulnerable people out of fuel poverty according to the charity National Energy Action.

Commenting on the budget Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive at NEA said:

"NEA welcomes the chancellor's commitment to building a greener economy - particularly his pledge to fund £100m for insulation improvements in social housing through the decent homes programme and the extra £70m for small scale community energy programmes. The announcement that the Winter Fuel Allowance will be extended for another year is also welcome. We look forward to studying these proposals in detail.

"But we believe the Chancellor missed a chance to create jobs, help the economy, alleviate fuel poverty and meet environmental targets by not committing to a single Energy Efficiency Fund.

"It is estimated that an initiative like this would create thousands of new jobs, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.6m tonnes every year and help the Government meet its 2016 target of abolishing fuel poverty - a problem that blights the lives of more than 5.4m households across the UK."

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